Choirs from Raleigh, Boambee and William Bayldon public schools have already accepted the invitation to visit Urunga Public School for Music: Count Us In Day (MCUI) on Thursday, October 30. 

Each school will perform their own songs, and join with the other schools at 12.30pm in the grand finale item, Paint You A Song. 

MCUI is a much loved and highly anticipated event within the national school calendar, and is now in its eighth year. 

This huge school initiative will see more than 500,000 students from over 2,100 schools sing the same song, at the same time, right across the country. From Perth to Penrith, Humpty Doo to Hobart, school kids of all ages and abilities have been busily learning and rehearsing this year’s Music: Count Us In song, Paint You a Song.

The local MCUI features John Paul College student Nathan Wendt.

Nathan won the nationwide Count Us In songwriting competition, and as a result, collaborated with John Foreman and Harry James Angus (from Australian band The Cat Empire) to create Paint You A Song. 

Nathan will be sharing his MCUI story and insights, as well as conducting the massed choir for the finale. As the event is only 2 weeks away, Mei is hoping to hear very soon from the 15 other local schools who have registered interest on the MCUI website, as well as any other schools who would like to participate. 

The aim of this annual event is to highlight the important role that music plays in educational development. Registrations are now open for schools to get access to free support materials and classroom activity resources.

Some of the biggest names in the Australian music industry have supported MCUI, including Program Ambassador, John Foreman, Josh Pyke, Clare Bowditch, Melinda Schneider and Holly Throsby. This year Harry James Angus from The Cat Empire has thrown his hat into ring, mentoring five talented high school students from across the country at a workshop in Sydney to write the program song.

MCUI delivers much needed professional development to classroom teachers. Research shows that teachers often lack the skills and confidence to teach music. Statistics from 8 years of MCUI show that participation often leads to increased provision of music by teachers, Principals and school communities throughout the year. More students put their hands up to join existing music ensembles and principals allocate more time and resources to music.

“I am honoured to be part of a program that has such a wonderful impact on school communities,” says program ambassador John Foreman. “I am constantly inspired by teachers’ commitment to developing their skills in order to provide students with much needed music education. By offering lesson plans, resources and opportunity for celebration, Music: Count Us In tries to make teachers’ lives a little easier!”

Managed by the Music Council of Australia, Music: Count Us In is supported by funding from The Australian Government. It meets a priority recommendation of the National Review of School Music Education (2005) to raise the status of music in our schools.

Schools can register at http://www.musiccountusin.org.au/register